Ferraro struggles in Bercy

World number one Juan Carlos Ferrero was pushed all the way by French qualifier Nicolas Mahut before advancing to the third round of the BNP Paribas Masters Series in Bercy tonight.

The 23-year-old Spaniard, looking to extend his four-point lead in the rankings over American rival Andy Roddick, needed longer than expected – 90 minutes – to dispose of Mahut 7-6 (9-7) 6-4.

Ferrero, who won the French Open in June and finished runner-up to Roddick at the US Open in September, took just under an hour to clinch the first set as the Bercy fans lifted the 21-year-old Frenchman, who fought doggedly for every point.

The talented baseliner broke the French Open champion in the fifth game of the opening set and held set point in a see-saw tie-break before losing it.

Ferrero seemed to be thrown off balance by the younster‘s aggression, but resolutely maintained his focus until Mahut suddenly lost his way in the ninth game of the second set with a string of errors and the Spaniard moved in for the kill in the next game.